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| Primary schools outside London catching up with capital | Primary schools outside London catching up with capital |
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| Primary schools outside London are starting to catch up with those in the capital, according to the latest school league tables, and there has been a sharp drop in the number of schools failing to meet the government’s floor targets for performance. | Primary schools outside London are starting to catch up with those in the capital, according to the latest school league tables, and there has been a sharp drop in the number of schools failing to meet the government’s floor targets for performance. |
| However, more than 200,000 youngsters are still being taught in under-performing schools, the figures reveal, with a child’s chances of gaining a good grounding in the basics heavily dependent on where they live. | However, more than 200,000 youngsters are still being taught in under-performing schools, the figures reveal, with a child’s chances of gaining a good grounding in the basics heavily dependent on where they live. |
| The results of this summer’s national key stage 2 tests and assessments in reading, maths and writing – taken by 11-year-olds at the end of primary school – reveal an improved performance in local authorities such as Redcar and Cleveland, which were among the best performing in England. | The results of this summer’s national key stage 2 tests and assessments in reading, maths and writing – taken by 11-year-olds at the end of primary school – reveal an improved performance in local authorities such as Redcar and Cleveland, which were among the best performing in England. |
| But the top-performing of all in 2015 was Kensington and Chelsea in west London, where 91% of pupils achieved expected levels of attainment in reading, writing and mathematics, followed by Richmond-upon-Thames with 88%. | But the top-performing of all in 2015 was Kensington and Chelsea in west London, where 91% of pupils achieved expected levels of attainment in reading, writing and mathematics, followed by Richmond-upon-Thames with 88%. |
| Kensington and Chelsea could also boast arguably the best primary school in England, Fox primary in Notting Hill. The average points score achieved by Fox’s 42 pupils was bettered only by the six pupils at Little Dewchurch village primary school in Herefordshire. | Kensington and Chelsea could also boast arguably the best primary school in England, Fox primary in Notting Hill. The average points score achieved by Fox’s 42 pupils was bettered only by the six pupils at Little Dewchurch village primary school in Herefordshire. |
| Redcar and Cleveland in the north-east had 87% of its pupils reaching the expected levels, alongside Greenwich and Sutton, while Trafford in Greater Manchester was on a par with Bromley, Camden, Hounslow and Havering with 86%. | Redcar and Cleveland in the north-east had 87% of its pupils reaching the expected levels, alongside Greenwich and Sutton, while Trafford in Greater Manchester was on a par with Bromley, Camden, Hounslow and Havering with 86%. |
| Related: Further gains for maths and literacy results in Sats exam | Related: Further gains for maths and literacy results in Sats exam |
| However, the list of worst performing local authorities had a familiar feel, with Poole, Bradford, Doncaster, Luton, Peterborough and Walsall all in the bottom 10 for the second year in a row. In some parts of the country, all primaries are reaching government targets on performance, whereas in others, around one in seven do not reach the benchmark. | However, the list of worst performing local authorities had a familiar feel, with Poole, Bradford, Doncaster, Luton, Peterborough and Walsall all in the bottom 10 for the second year in a row. In some parts of the country, all primaries are reaching government targets on performance, whereas in others, around one in seven do not reach the benchmark. |
| Nick Gibb, the schools minister, said it was essential that every child left primary school having mastered the basics in reading, writing and maths. | Nick Gibb, the schools minister, said it was essential that every child left primary school having mastered the basics in reading, writing and maths. |
| “The increased performance at primary level across the country demonstrates how this government is delivering on its commitment to provide educational excellence everywhere and ensure every child benefits from the best possible start in life, no matter where they come from,” Gibb said. | “The increased performance at primary level across the country demonstrates how this government is delivering on its commitment to provide educational excellence everywhere and ensure every child benefits from the best possible start in life, no matter where they come from,” Gibb said. |
| Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said congratulations were also due to schools working hard for their pupils. | |
| “The fact that maintained schools and converter academies’ results have improved at exactly the same rate over the past four years - five percentage points – has been completely ignored. This exposes the inconvenient truth that school structures do not drive improvement,” Blower said. | |
| The Department for Education figures showed that just 676 primary schools in England failed to meet the government’s floor target of at least 65% of pupils reaching level four or above in reading, writing and maths, compared with 768 last year after the floor standard was raised from 60%. | The Department for Education figures showed that just 676 primary schools in England failed to meet the government’s floor target of at least 65% of pupils reaching level four or above in reading, writing and maths, compared with 768 last year after the floor standard was raised from 60%. |
| London had the lowest proportion of schools below the floor target, though Rutland in the east Midlands and Devon also did well, and the north-west and north-east regions were second only to London in the proportion of schools that performed above the floor target. | London had the lowest proportion of schools below the floor target, though Rutland in the east Midlands and Devon also did well, and the north-west and north-east regions were second only to London in the proportion of schools that performed above the floor target. |
| The national results published earlier this summer showed a small improvement in the number of pupils reaching the required level in literacy and maths, but that still left one in five of the nearly 580,000 pupils failing to reach the expected levels at the end of key stage 2. | The national results published earlier this summer showed a small improvement in the number of pupils reaching the required level in literacy and maths, but that still left one in five of the nearly 580,000 pupils failing to reach the expected levels at the end of key stage 2. |
| Related: Bradford rejects 'failing schools' label from Ofsted chief | |
| The improved national results confirms recent praise for primary schools by Sir Michael Wilshaw, the chief inspector of schools in England, who said the emphasis on using synthetic phonics to teach literacy was “certainly bearing fruit”, while Ofsted’s inspections showed similar patterns of performance in primary schools across the country. | The improved national results confirms recent praise for primary schools by Sir Michael Wilshaw, the chief inspector of schools in England, who said the emphasis on using synthetic phonics to teach literacy was “certainly bearing fruit”, while Ofsted’s inspections showed similar patterns of performance in primary schools across the country. |
| The DfE said that the achievement gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their better-off peers continued to narrow. | The DfE said that the achievement gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their better-off peers continued to narrow. |
| Last year there was a gap of 16 percentage points between those on free school meals achieving the government’s benchmark of level four, indicating they are ready to start secondary school, and other pupils. | Last year there was a gap of 16 percentage points between those on free school meals achieving the government’s benchmark of level four, indicating they are ready to start secondary school, and other pupils. |
| The updated figures show that 80% of pupils in year 6 at mainstream state primary schools passed key stage 2 tests and assessments in reading, writing and mathematics. | The updated figures show that 80% of pupils in year 6 at mainstream state primary schools passed key stage 2 tests and assessments in reading, writing and mathematics. |
| The reading and maths exams were taken by 566,000 year 6 pupils in more than 15,000 state schools. They are the first externally marked national exams sat in England. | The reading and maths exams were taken by 566,000 year 6 pupils in more than 15,000 state schools. They are the first externally marked national exams sat in England. |